Whitney Houstons cover of I will Always Love You?
Actually that fits your first point, it wasn't a classic in the first place.

Hmmmmmmm, I can't currently think of a cover version of a song I like that is better.

Actually, I did a thrash metal cover of Rainbow's Since You've Been Gone, mind you, that is a better version than Russ Ballard original, so now I'm confused.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:14, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

what about some of the stuff off Garage Inc?

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:15, Reply)

Not better than the originals.
I'm not that familiar with the album actually, but I've heard some of it, and it's good, but it's just Metallica paying tribute to songs they liked, they haven't made them any better as the originals were aweseome, which is why they liked them.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:16, Reply)

fair point
that album got me into Diamond Head, who are freaking awesome
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:17, Reply)

I saw them supporting Thin Lizzy
before I had actually heard them, I knew of them though. They were really good.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:20, Reply)

awesome
the guy who engineered my band's CD worked on the original Am I Evil?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:22, Reply)

metal spluffs

I rather like garage inc, it introduced me to loads of bands I didn't know
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:23, Reply)

yeah, got me into diamond head and blue oyster cult
worthy things on their own.

I like the album as a whole, apart from the first and last tracks on disc 1, which I think are a bit shit
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:26, Reply)

I Love Turn the Page

and the mercyful fate medley, where else do you get necrophilia, mummies and armies of the dead in one 12 minute song?
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:29, Reply)

that is an awesome medley
great fun to play as well.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:29, Reply)

Most people speaking of Garage Inc cite...
Whisky in the Jar. I believe the Dubliners version to be superior to both Thin Lizzy's and Metallica's! Although it's a kind of folky song with no real original... Didn't think much of Garage Inc thereafter...
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:17, Reply)

Richard Cheese's Gin and Juice is great

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:16, Reply)

Actually, his version of The Sickness is brilliant

(Bazongaloid, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:16, Reply)

and Rape Me

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 4 Dec 2009, 15:18, Reply)